Risk of Type 1 Diabetes in Children Is Not Increased After SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Nationwide Prospective Study in Denmark

OBJECTIVE: It has been hypothesized that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in children can increase risk of developing type 1 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We undertook a prospective, register-based analysis of children in Denmark by investigating the association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and subsequent risk of type 1 diabetes. During the pandemic, Denmark had one of the highest test rates per capita in the world, and 90% of all Danish children were tested.

RESULTS: Compared with children with a history of only negative SARS-CoV-2 tests, we did not observe a higher risk of first-time diagnosis of type 1 diabetes in children 30 days or more after a positive SARS-CoV-2 test (hazard ratio 0.85; 95% CI 0.70-1.04).

CONCLUSIONS: Our data do not support that SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with type 1 diabetes or that type 1 diabetes should be a special focus after a SARS-CoV-2 infection in children.